Decius wrote:
] ] Initially, police will place six cameras in the Cleveland
] ] Park area of east Nashville and also downtown in the
] ] tourist-heavy Second Avenue and Broadway district.
] ]
] ] If the system works out, the department plans to buy more
] ] cameras and build a more expansive network throughout the
] ] city.
]
] There were planning to record audio as well, but apparently
] they couldn't defend that politically. Soon everywhere you go
] outside the police will be watching you. Better be carefull
] about loitering in a parking lot. Especially if you look like
] you might be young or not sufficiently white or otherwise
] undesirable. I wonder if they'll start following people from
] bars back to their cars and radio dispatch to pull them over?
]
] This isn't going on in Nashville because it is particularly
] needed in Nashville. Its going on in Nashville because people
] in Nashville aren't willing to resist it.

It's kinda hard to get riled up about this simply due to the fact that there's tangible benefits that can be drawn from it. For one, having cameras on 2nd Ave isn't necessarily a bad thing. It can get pretty rowdy (not that I mind) and there have been numerous assaults and batteries over the years. Back when our offices were on 2nd Ave, it was not uncommon to see brawls after last call. The mounties and squad cars are a good deterrent, but they can't see everything. Considering how far you usually have to go to where your car is parked, it can get dicey.

The potential for abuse is there, but the public benefit seems like it would outway it. Nashville's police force is definitely not known for it's fine upstanding conduct, but I think they're not high-tech enough to take advantage of something like this. Besides, most of the officers I know are the worst offenders of DUI laws I know! So it could go both ways.

Proliferation would be a problem though because for the most part, Nashville is not pedestrian friendly.

RE: Nashville Police to install city wide video surveillance system.